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Azinger penalized

Howell leader

September 06, 2003|By Tribune news services.

Paul Azinger lost two strokes and a lofty spot on the Canadian Open leaderboard in the second television-related ruling of his career.

Azinger was penalized Friday after a TV viewer alerted PGA Tour officials that the veteran player's caddie, Ted Scott, removed the flagstick from the hole while playing partner Fred Funk's ball was still in motion on the 13th green--barely moving about 2 feet past the cup after a chip.

The ruling left Azinger with a 2-under 68, putting him three strokes behind leader Charles Howell III after the second round. Howell shot a 68 on the historic Hamilton Golf and Country Club course in Hamilton, Ontario, to take a one-stroke lead over Tom Byrum (69) and Japanese players Kenichi Kuboya (67) and Hidemichi Tanaka (70).

- Gil Morgan closed with a pair of birdies for a 7-under 65 to take a one-stroke lead over Larry Nelson, Jerry McGee and Bruce Summerhays in the first round of the Kroger Classic, a Champions Tour event in Maineville, Ohio.

Nelson missed a chance to tie for the lead when his 30-foot birdie putt burned the edge of the cup on 18. He already had the 553-yard, par-5 eighth, as did Jim Thorpe, who was alone in fifth at 67.

- Karrie Webb finished with a 5-under par 65 to lead the opening round of the LPGA John Q. Hammons Hotel Classic in Tulsa, Okla. Webb finished one stroke ahead of Donna Andrews.